Apparently, on some copies of Vista the operating system intervenes and even though the TD thinks it is saving files to the same place the software is installed ("C:\Program Files\The Tournament Director 2" by default), it actually saves somewhere else. Try looking in:

The problem is that Vista (I guess not all versions - I have ultimate too and I have the same issue) doesnt like programs updating folders under "program files" - it considers this potentially unsafe. When it detects this it saves them to a virtual store that mimics "program files" so that the program in question is fooled into thinking everything is hunky dory. However, of course, when the program subsequently looks for it it isnt there.

In explorer you can see where this has happened as a button on the toolbar appears labelled "compatability files" when a folder is selected that has had this happen. Clicking on this shows the files that were "naughty" and moved elsewhere in the virtual store. You cant switch off the feature I don't think - but you can manually move stuff around.

I guess Vista is just (rightly or wrongly) encouraging software developers to not "save" / "update" in program files - in fact theres a folder now called program data - suspect thats where they want that stuff to go - so maybe best to chnage the "saves" location to somewhere not under program files

yes - try that - I have a C:\tdsaves folder. That should sort that out - however - other updates to the TD files such as prefs or templates or db etc may also seemingly "disappear" becuase they are still all under program files at some point.

Maybe Corey will allow a config option that allows all updateable / dynamic areas of the program be pointed at from somewhere else of the user's choosing? I notice that the default saves folder uses a <tdfolder> token to presumably mean "C:\program files\tournament director 2\" - if this a reference that the user can modify - or maybe the creation of a new token, say <tddynamic> that refs this user updateable area.

Of course - the easiest answer is to backup all, uninstall, and re-install under somewhere other than program files :-)

hmmm may not be the way to do it - corey will say i guess if bad - but safest thing is to backup, unnstall - and reinstall but chnage the install location to be not under program files - then restre ur backup and all is then as is and will work fine. If you just "move" everything it may not like that very much.

Moving everything is just fine. The software doesn't make any attempt to "remember" where it is installed. Think of it as "portable". When you run the program, it immediately tries to determine where it is running from, and that's where it will look for the database, preferences, etc.

If Vista just tries to be "smart" about programs putting things in "C:\Program Files" (or %PROGRAMFILES%), then what Scott did seems to me to be the best solution. Put the software somewhere else so Vista doesn't mess with it.

Corey - if the whole TD folder is "moved" to a new location AFTER a "normal" installation, whilst you say all is well because TD does not actually care where it resides, I presume un-installing (should you need to - I know, unthinkable) will fail then as it will not find what it is looking for in order to uninstall successfully?